Form spacer



C. A. KEMPER arch 8, 1938.

FORM SPACER Filed Sept. 20, 1955 Caivm lLKem zer INVENTOR BY ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FORM SPACER 4 Claims.

This invention relates to form spacers.

One object of the invention is to provide form spacers for spacing concrete forms from steel structural members during the fireproofing of the same, the spacers being formed of sheet metal and provided with spurs which enable the spacers to be driven into the forms and provided also with flanges which act as stop members to limit the extent into which they may enter the forms either when driven by the workman or when the forms are subjected to unbalanced loads of concrete which tend to tilt the forms and thus force some of the spacers farther into the wood.

A further object of the invention is to provide a form spacer having three spurs of equal length, the points of which define a triangle whereby to insure that when the points are placed against a form to be driven into the same, the body of the spacer will be disposed at right angles to the form.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spacer generally V-shaped in cross sections, with three spurs in alignment with the extremities of the section whereby a direct hammer blow on the head end of the spacer will tend to drive it straight into the form as distinguished from certain forms of spacers now on the market wherein the spur or spurs are set inwardly of the extremities of the cross section and which therefore necessitate that only that or those portions of the head directly in line with the spurs be struck with the hammer to avoid driving the spacers into the forms at decided angles and thus rendering the spacing of the forms from the beam or columns non-uniform.

Other advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification and accompaying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a spacer embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof,

Figure 3 is a front elevation,

Figure 4 is a top plan View,

Figure 5 is a horizontal section through a steel column inclosed in a form and illustrating the use of the improved spacers, and

Figure 6 is a vertical section through a steel beam also inclosed in a soffit form and illustrating another use of the present improvement.

In the drawing the spacer is indicated generally by the numeral H! and is preferably formed of sheet metal. In cross section the spacer is V-shaped, the free edges of the wings ll of the V terminating in longitudinal stiffening flanges 2. The lower ends of the flanges l2 terminate in spurs l3 while a third spur I4 is formed as a continuation of the base of the V. The spurs thus define a triangle and serve to position the body of the spacer at right angles to the form when it is placed against the latter preparatory to being driven in place by the workman. 5

It will also be observed that the spurs are in alignment with the extremities of the upper or a head end of the spacer, in other words no portion of the head extends laterally beyond the spacers and hence the spacer is less likely to fly out of the workmans hand should his hammer strike more on one wing l I than the other, than is the case with several present commercial forms of spacers having spurs set inwardly of the extremities of the end.

The lower ends of the body portions II are provided with integral stop members l5 each disposed between one of the spurs I3 and the central spur l4. These stop members extend outwardly at right angles to the portions H and limit the extent to which the spurs can be driven into the forms. Thus the spacers will space the forms I 6 uniformly from .the steel structural element l'l shown in Figure 5, or from the beam I8 illustrated in Figure 6.

The stop members perform an additional function also which is of practical advantage. Thus in filling the soffit form IQ of Figure 6, concrete may be dumped by the workmen in one side of the form which will tend to swing it slightly on the hanger member 20 by means of which the form is supported from the beam l8. This tendency of the form to tilt when carrying an unbalanced load temporarily, has frequently caused certain prior spacers to be pressed more deeply 3 into the wood of the forms with the result that the forms are disaligned and the finished concrete surface not in the intended plane. The stops l 5 of the present improvements not only resist the pressing of the spacers into the form, but since the stops extend outwardly from the outer planes of the sections ll, they act as braces which present relatively large areas in contact with the forms and thus resist the tilting action of the forms.

It will be noted that the spurs l3 are positioned in the same plane and that spur I4 is disposed substantially parallel with said plane. The spurs can thus be driven into the forms parallel with 50 the grain of the wood, instead of across the grain, winch facilitates the positioning of the spaces.

While I have shown and described an embodiment of my invention for the purpose of illustration, I do not wish to be restricted specifically thereto except as so limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A form spacer comprising a member V- shaped in cross section having three triangularly arranged substantially parallel spurs extending from an end thereof at each extremity of the section and outwardly extending flanges between said spurs arranged at right angles to the adjacent portions of the member.

2. A form spacer comprising a member V- shaped in cross section, co-planar longitudinal stiffening flanges at the free edges of said member each terminating at one end in a spur, and a central spur substantially parallel with said other spurs projecting from the angular portion of said member.

3. A form spacer comprising a member V- shaped in cross section, co-planar longitudinal stiifening flanges at the free edges of said member, each terminating at one end in a spur, a central spur projecting from the angular portion of said member and disposed in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of said other spurs, and a pair of stops for limiting the extent to which said spurs can be'driven into a form and bracing said member against displacement, said stops comprising outwardly directed flanges each disposed between said central spur and one of said other spurs.

4. A form spacer comprising a body V-shaped in cross section and provided at its free vertical edges with co-planar stifiening flanges, the base of said body being provided with penetrating spurs located at the extremities of said base, two of said spurs being formed as extensions of said flanges, and a third spur formed as an extension of the vertex of said body, all said spurs being substantially parallel whereby the same can be driveninto a wooden form in directions parallel with the grain of the wood.

CALVIN A. KEMPER. 

